Control arrangement for tandem operation pressing machines



June 18, 1935. E. A. MALL 2,005,043

CONTROL ARRANGEMENT FOR TANDEM OPERATION PRESSING MACHINES Filed Aug..24, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR ATTORN EYS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 E. A.MALL Filed Aug. 24, 1933 CONTROL ARRANGEMENT FOR TANDEM OPERATIONPRESSING MACHINES June 18, 1935.

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INVENTOR IM/1 4. /Ze// 2 11, 141% 1 7 ATTORNEYS Patented June 18, 1935UNITED STATES CONTROL ARRANGEMENT FOR TANDENIv OPERATKQN ERESSINGDIACHKNES Edwin A. Mall, Norwood, Ohio, assignor to The American LaundryMachinery Company, Cincinnati, (ihio, a corporation of Ohio ApplicationAugust 24,

1 Claim.

This invention relates to pressing machines and, particularly, to anarrangement of a plu rality of pressing machines for tandem operationand to control mechanism for such machines.

I Tandem operation of pressing machines is well known; in the art, theprimary purpose of tandem arrangement being to save the time of theoperator in keeping a plurality of pressing machines simultaneously inoperation. 1 In a usual arrangement of machines in tandem, two machinesof standard construction and arrangement of parts are placed at rightangles toeach other as, for instance, with the right front corner of onepressing machine table joining the left front corner of the other table.e The pressing machines are, as hereinbefore stated, usually of standarddesign with each machine embodying two-hand control means whichnecessitates the use of both of the operators hands to bring aboutoperation of the pressing machine. Such controls are usually placedoneon each side of the center of each table and one control of each pressis connected with a tandem valve for causing release of the secondpress, so that 'actuation'of the control "to close the first presscauses opening of the second press.

Likewise, the pressing elements of these machines are usually arrangedin the standard position, for instance, with the narrower end of theusual elongated and tapering pressing bed or buck of each press at thesame side of the press, for example, with the narrower end of eachpressing bed at the right hand end of the machine. A major portion,probably '75 per cent or more,-oi laundry work is pressed on the smallerend of the bed. Therefore, with such a tandem arrangement, afterarranging a garment the operator is required to move from the right handend of one press to the center of that press to operate its controls,thence to the right hand end of the other press to remove a pressedgarment therefrom and to arrange another garment'thereon for pressing,and thence to the center of the second press to operate itscontrols. 4

' One object of my invention is to provide an arrangement of aplurality'of pressing machines "which reduces the distance travelled bythe operator. This is accomplished by placing the machines with thenarrower ends of the tapered pressing elements adjacent eachother, andby arranging the controls of each machine near this common point. V

Another object of my invention is to provide a control mechanism whereina single control member has a press-opening efiect at one ma- 1933,Serial No. 686,561

chine and, simultaneously therewith, a pressclosing effect at anothermachine. e Various other objects and advantages, of my invention will beapparent from the following description, together with the drawings, inwhich, Fig. 1 is a perspective View of two presses arranged in tandemformation in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 is a view showing acontrol member common .to two machines and Fig. 3 is a diagrammaticalview of the operating parts of Fig. 1 showing the tandem relation of theoperating parts and controls of the-two machines; I

'While my improved tandem arrangement-and control mechanism may be usedwith any type of press, I'have chosen to illustrate the same as appliedto presses of thetype illustrated, described and claimed in thecopending application of John P. Singiser, Serial No. 642,053, filed"Noyember '10, 1932. I will therefore give a sufficient description ofthe operating parts of such apress to permit an understanding of thepresent inven tion, reference being had to the above-mentionedapplication for further details, if desired. I

The invention is illustrated in Fig. 1 as applied to two presses, A andB, arranged substantially at right angles to each other for jointoperation by one operator. Press A shows the pressing elements in aposition just prior to the final pressing operation. Press '13 shows thepressing elements in open position.

The pressing elements of press A are shown in position with the narrowend of the elements toward the right side of themachine. Pressingelements of press 13 areshown with the narrow 35 end of the pressing"elements toward the left side of the machine. Thus the presses as theyare arranged havetheir smallerends adjacent. In laundry practice thegreater proportion of the garments are drawn over and pressed on the 0smaller end of the buck. Thus in operation, the operator stands near theintersection of the two presses or in other words in a position wherethefewest steps are required to handle work on and offthe pressing beds ofboth machines. 4

' The control levers l9 and H of press A are shown in position depressedby the operator to lower the pressing head. "The tandem valve l2 ismounted on a bracket'l3 in a position such 50 that the depressing'of thelever l0 opens this valve which admits air to a release cylinder llmounted at the base of the pressB and causes the release mechanismconnected with treadle i8 of the press B to be actuated and the press-55 ing elements of that press to be moved to open position.

The press B is provided in similar fashion with two levers I4 and I5.Lever I4 is provided in the same manner as lever I!) with a tandem valveI6 which is actuated when the control lever I4 is depressed and admitsair to a tandem cylinder Ila identical with that used on press B whichactuates the mechanism connected with release treadle I81]. and opensthe pressing elements of press A.

It will be noted that the presses of Fig. 1 are arranged angularly withrespect to each other and that the control levers are positioned on theside of the longitudinal center of each press toward the vertex of theangle.

Control II is in series with control I and air does not enter its valveuntil control I0 is operated. Likewise on press B control I is in serieswith control I4 and it likewise is second in the series andthe air doesnot pass through it until I4 is operated. Thus,'if it is so desired, thecontrols II and I5 may be combined into one control. A simple manner ofdoing this is shown in Fig. 2 where the controls are linked together bya link I9., although it will be apparent the control'smight beredesigned and placed in one structure. I

The power means and control mechanism of press A are identical inconstruction with that of press B and will be described in connectionwith press B only, similar parts on press A being similarly numbered,with the addition of the su'flix a. s p v Referring now to Fig.3, thepower operating means. comprisesacylinder 20, having a suitable piston2|, and a piston rod 22 operatively connected. tothe to gle members ofthe press, not shown. A valve casing 23 is mounted on top of thecylinder and contains a piston valve 24 adapted to move backward andforward to close the inlet port 25 in the forward position and theexhaust port 26 in rearward position.

The inlet port is connected by a conduit 21 to a source of fluidpressure supply 28 through valves 29 and 30, connected in series bysuitable conduits. Valves 29 and 30 are operable by controls I4 and I5respectively. The exhaust port 26 lies between the passage 3| of thecylinder and a muffler 32. The piston valve 24 is provided with smallholes 33 in the periphery of its cup such that when airisadmittedthrough the port 25 the valve is forced against the exhaust portand, at the same time, fluid pressure is directed through the holes andthe passage 3| to the cylinder. Another valve 34 is mounted on thecylinder and is connected directly to the main fluid pressure supply.This valve is operated by the rearward movement of the piston 2|. Forthis purpose a bar 35 is attached to the pistonrod and operates througha guide in the rear of the cylinder. The forward end 36 of the bar for ashort distance is of narrower width than the remainder-such that whenthe piston travels to the rear, the narrower portion allows a bell cranklever 31 to rotate on its pivot 38 and opens the valve 34.- When thecutaway portion of the rod 35 has reached the position as describedabove, the piston through its connection with the toggle members of thepress has caused the press head to lower into contact with the bed.Thus, when the valve 34 is opened, it directs the fluid pressure in themain supply through conduit 34 directly tothe head of the piston andseals the pressing elements in their pressing position. Up to the timethat the cutaway portion hands of the operator are occupied untilthepressing elements are in contact. Then upon operation of the valve 34as just described the operator may release the control levers I4 and I5and fluid pressure on the piston will be maintained.

To release the pressure and raise the press head, the operator may stepon the foot treadle Ill. The foot treadle is provided with an upwardlyextending portion 39 adapted to engage a bell crank lever 40 above itspivot point so that it is rotated in a counterclockwise direction. Alink4I connects one arm of the bell crank 40 with an arm of a bell crank42. The counterclockwise movement of the bell crank 4|] pulls downwardlyon link 4| and rotates bell crank. 42 I in a counterclockwise direction.The vertical arm of bell crank 42 is adapted to engage a cam surface 43of the lever 31 and to rotate lever 31 in a counterclockwise directionwhich relieves the pressure of the arm 44 on the stem of valve 34. Thisoperation closes the valve 34. Simul taneously the extreme upper portionof the vertical arm of bell crank 42 engages a push-rod 45 and moves itforward or to the left in Fig. 3.

The rod 45 engages a post on the piston valve 24 and moves it away fromits engagement with the exhaust port 26 and the fluid pressure'isrelieved through the passage 3|, the exhaust port 26 and mufiler 32 tothe atmosphere.

The release operation of the press may also be accomplished by means ofatandem valve, arranged to be actuated with movement of the controlmember of another press in press-closing direction. Thus a tandem valveI2 onrpressA is arranged to be opened by depression of control memberII), when that member is actuated to close press A. Opening .of valve,I2 admits fluid pressure from a suitable source through conduit 41 torelease cylinder I1 of press B; This release cylinder has a piston 48and plunger 43 adapted to move bell-crank 40 in counterclockwisedirection,,to cause opening of press B in the same manner as describedin connection with the depression of treadle I8. The tandem operation ofthe presses is as follows: The operator arranges the lay of the work onpress B and depresses controls I4 and I5. Fluid pressure flows from themain supply line 28 through valves 29 and 30, conduit 21, and port 25 invalve casing 23. t I

Piston valve 24 is moved against the exhaust port 26 and fluid pressureis directed through passage 3| to'the head of the piston 2|. The

piston moves rearwardly or to the right in Fig. 3;

When the cutaway portion 36 of the bar 35 has reached the roller of thelever 31, the lever rotates clockwise and opens valve 34. Fluid pressureis now directed from main supply 28 through open valve 34 and conduit 34to the head of. the piston. Fluid pressure is thereby maintained againstpiston 2| and the operators hands may be removed from the control leversI4 and I5. Simultaneously with the operation of depressing the lever I4,the tandem valve I6 is opened and fluid pressure flows from the mainsupply through valve I6 and conduit 41a to cylinder I1a. The piston 48ais moved to the right, plunger 49a engages the vertical arm ofbell-crank 40a, which opens exhaust port 26a and closes the maintaininginlet valve 34a of press A, and causes opening of that press. Theelements of press B are now in final pressing position and the operatorturns to press A where she removes the garment which has just beenpressed and replaces it with another whereupon control handles I0 and Hare depressed. The cycle of operations occurs on press A which has'justbeen described in connection with press B.

My improved arrangement of the control mechanism combined with my novelarrangement of the pressing beds greatly reduces the work of anoperator. Standing in the angle between the two presses she is in theproper position for placing a garment on the bed of either press A orpress B. Thus, assume that she has just placed a garment on press A and,without leaving her position, she depressed the controls It) and H andlowered the press head onto the bed. Simultaneously with the lowering ofthe head of press A, the head of press B opened. She now has anothergarment in hand and, with just a turn of the body, she is in a positionto place the garment on the bed of press B. When this 5 lay has beencompleted, she depresses controls simultaneously raises the head ofpress A, and again she turns to press A. The operator in this fashioncontinues pressing on both machines with a minimum expenditure of timeand effort, as she does not have tomove about to reach the controls andpressing elements.

What I claim is:

In combination, right and left hand pressing machines associated fortandem operation, each thereof including relatively movable cooperatingpressing members narrowing toward one end, said machines being locatedat an angle to each other with the narrow ends of their pressing membersclosely adjacent the vertex of said angle, whereby both machines opentoward and are controllable by an operator standing within the angle,power operating means for each machine, pressure-producing control meansfor each power means, and pressure-releasing control means for eachpower means, the control means for each machine being grouped andlocated nearer to its narrow than to its wider end, whereby an operatorworking adjacent the vertex of said angle can operate both groups ofcontrols with minimum effort.

EDWIN A. MALL.

